Gypsie Nation offers freestyle ecstatic dance rituals for self-exploration, healing and community building. We strive to re-create what has held communities and generations in balance since the beginning of time: dance rituals that foster the free expression of emotions through movement and music.
Offered weekly, our dances offer a spiritual environment that is non-dogmatic, playful and safe, giving participants an opportunity to embrace life in a passionate and renewing way. We welcome people of all ages (including young children) and from all walks of life. We invite participants to gift their body and spirit to a treat of freedom and exuberance through dance.
Participants are encouraged to let their body move as inspired by the various musical pieces of the program. There is no obligation to do anything during the ritual but to be free, genuine and respectful. At any given time during the dance, one can observe people swaying gracefully, laying still, rolling around like children, jumping around, singing or praying by the altars. People sometimes also connect for partner dance or group dance when the music inspires them.
The dance ritual is conducted in a “circle spirit” and talking is suspended from the dance floor during the ritual. The non-verbal space assists in creating sacred space and separating us from our ordinary reality.
At the end of the dance, participants circle up and are invited to share their insights, healings or breakthroughs experienced during the dance. This optional sharing is a powerful opportunity to reveal one’s heart in the circle, assists in developing trust and intimacy between participants, and greatly contributes to the building of community.
We encourage people to participate in decorating the dance hall, building our altars, bringing small food offerings for the feast at the end of the dance, and adorning themselves in order to honor their spirit and those of the ancestors.
We often ask such questions as: “What if your dance had the potential to positively affect an ailing relative’s health, help you receive a vision for your life, or help alleviate the suffering of a war-torn country? How would you prepare for the ritual and how would you dance?”
We pay great attention to many aspects of the ritual because we view the offering of this medicine as a great honor and responsibility.
